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- “First-rate
Requiem”
- “Lawrence Golan and
his orchestra lived up to the high standards of the visiting London
Symphony Chorus and the challenges of the Verdi Requiem. With nearly 80
players (including a trumpet quartet in a side box) and 100 chorus
members, the roof-rattling explosions of the Requiem made for a thrilling
listening experience. And the presence of a first-rate quartet of vocal
soloists brought heartfelt sentiment to the intimate expressions of this
profound work. As one would expect from the Londoners - one of the world's
great ensembles - the choral passages were sung impeccably. Their
enunciation was ideal, whispered passages drew listeners in, ecstatic
exclamations pinned them to the backs of their seats.”
- -Marc Shulgold,
Rocky Mountain News
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- “The 100-voice
London Symphony Chorus and the Lamont Symphony Orchestra joined forces for
a stirring presentation of this towering creation [the Verdi Requiem]. The
chorus provided many standout moments, from its repeated ghostly
enunciations of the opening word of the work, "requiem," to its
thrillingly terrifying delivery of the famous beginning lines of the "Dies
irae (Day of wrath)." On the podium, Lawrence Golan adroitly handled the
diversity of musical forces gathered before him, drawing the best from
each and sculpting a cohesive interpretation overall.”
- -Kyle MacMillan,
Denver Post
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- “A Special Night at
the Symphony”
- “Lawrence Golan led
The Phoenix Symphony in one of its best performances in recent years. The
audience was rewarded with a truly exciting reading of Brahms’ Fourth
Symphony. Golan gave us the fury in the music in a headlong rush that
never slighted the musical details. When it was over, the audience
provided a standing ovation as well as genuine whoops and hoots of real
appreciation. And the orchestra members themselves must have recognized
they did something special.”
- -Richard Nilsen,
The Arizona Republic
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- “Friday night’s
performance was truly quite exceptional. Lawrence Golan was very
expressive, particularly in his facial expressions, and it was very clear
that the musicians responded quite well to his direction. The balance was
perfect. In the Mozart Symphony No. 21, the orchestra responded to Golan’s
every effort beautifully. Early Mozart can be quite a remarkable
experience under the hands of someone who truly loves it, and it is clear
that Lawrence Golan is one of those individuals. It was also clear that
the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra really appreciates his conducting.
Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet gave the Denver Philharmonic
Orchestra an opportunity to show that they can perform with incredible
passion. The low strings, the harp, and the woodwinds were all quite
remarkable. From where I sat, it was very easy to keep a close eye on all
of the orchestra members, and they were absolutely riveted on Lawrence
Golan. There was a real connection that was quite apparent. The evening
was enormously successful not only because of the high quality of the
performance, but because the hall was filled to capacity. I do not recall
ever seeing it that full.”
- -Robin McNeil,
In Denver Times
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- “The Moravian
Philharmonic, led by Lawrence Golan, performs with passion and vigor, and
Albany's sound quality is clean and spacious.”
- -Stephen Eddins,
All Music Guide
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- “Golan's unfussy
Pathetique is well-played by the Czech orchestra and well-thought-out
by its conductor, and it stands up against many more-familiar recordings.
- -Richard Nilsen,
The Arizona Republic
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- “The audience loved
it. The Phoenix Symphony, under the baton of resident conductor Lawrence
Golan, sounded smooth when it needed to and edgy when required. The
symphony's strings have measurably improved in recent years and can sound
as good as anyone when rehearsed and practiced sufficiently.”
- -Richard Nilsen,
The Arizona Republic
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- "The audience was
younger than that at most symphony and chamber music concerts. Golan's
idea of introducing classical music to new listeners seems to be working."
-Portland Press Herald
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- “Golan makes
memorable debut at Bach Festival”
- “The [Boulder Bach]
festival was excellent, enjoyable and well-constructed, and an auspicious
opening to Golan's tenure.”
- -Kelly Dean
Hansen, Boulder Daily Camera
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- "Lamont Symphony
lives up to reputation"
- "One of the hottest
tickets during the year has been the series of concerts by Lawrence
Golan's splendid Lamont Symphony Orchestra. Last fall, a standing-room,
turn-away crowd gathered for a performance of Beethoven's Ninth. On
Thursday, another full house was on hand for an intriguing mixture of
familiar and less familiar works."
- -Marc Shulgold,
Rocky Mountain News
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- "Golan clearly
holds high expectations, judging from the challenging repertory heard
Thursday. Three rare works from the 20th century were balanced
by the serious demands of Brahms' Fourth Symphony. Golan chose crisp
tempos, particularly in the thrilling third movement, driving his players
with energy and clarity. This was a solid performance of difficult music."
- -Rocky Mountain
News
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- "The high quality
of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre was evident at a recent
performance of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro in Gates Hall last
weekend. Even before the curtain went up, Lawrence Golan and his players
sailed through the tricky overture like a bunch of old pros. Onstage, the
singers acquitted themselves admirably, delivering this long and demanding
opera with confidence and style."
- -Rocky Mountain
News
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- "The Chairman
Dances: Foxtrot for Orchestra, from Nixon in China by John
Adams, was quite marvelous, enough to make most listeners think twice
about minimalism."
-Christopher Hyde, Portland Press Herald
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- "Once in a while
comes a theater experience that makes you glad your eyes and ears are in
good working order. Both in concept and execution, USM's current
production of The Marriage of Figaro is a strong argument for
continuing support of college-level performing arts. ...Lawrence Golan
conducts the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, a wonderfully talented
group of 42 musicians who set the festive mood with the first familiar
strains of Mozart's overture. To all who combine to bring audiences this
treat, a heartfelt 'Bravo!' To those who haven't seen it yet, get thee
hence.
-Cathy Nelson Price, Portland Press Herald
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- "The string
orchestra under Lawrence Golan was virtually impeccable in some difficult
selections. They not only avoided the pitfalls but brought out some nice
details that tend to get lost in recordings. ...My Heart Will Go On, from
Titanic, sounded better than it did in the film. ...The technical
difficulties of Schoenberg's "Verklarte Nacht" are immense, but they
disappeared in waves of emotion that could have sunk the Titanic"
-Christopher Hyde, Portland Press Herald
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- Lawrence Golan
conducted with "commanding presence, solid baton technique and trustworthy
musicianship. He had an indefinable gift for lifting his players into
exciting articulation, sweeping phrases, and perfectly executed solo
passages."
-The Ellsworth American
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- "A purist through
and through, and with his knowledge of period performance practice, Golan
gives the audience the most faithful rendering of the printed score, to
which is added his inner feeling for the music."
-Face Magazine
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- "Lawrence Golan
conducted the Portland Ballet Orchestra in a flawless performance of the
well-known Tchaikovsky score."
- Portland Press Herald
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- "Conducted by
Lawrence Golan, the seven-piece instrumental ensemble [for Histoire du
Soldat] was superb, invoking Stravinsky's compelling martial atmosphere,
its colorful dissonance shining with a clear, rhythmic vibrancy."
-Maine Sunday Telegram
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- "He avoids
showmanship, but is a pleasure to watch, and the audience can actually be
instructed about rhythm from his beat."
-Face Magazine
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- "Golan is a
conscientious, precise conductor with expert, explicit podium style.
Low-key and unassuming, he established suitable tempos, molded phrases and
shaped dynamics."
-The Island Packet
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- "For all of these
tasks [involved with being Artistic Director and conductor], Golan is
supremely qualified; the level of talent in ACO and their confidence in
Golan is apparent from the first bars."
-Face Magazine
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- "Conductor Lawrence
Golan led his orchestra through a labyrinthine opera filled with moments
of sweeping intensity and hushed beauty."
-The Biddeford Journal Tribune
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- "The guest
conductor's musical presence was felt most keenly in the Grieg piece,
which contained the most impressive string playing of the evening. The
musicians shaped elegant, buoyant phrases that seemed to originate from
within. Dynamics were architecturally shaped and gracefully nuanced."
-The Island Packet
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- "This reviewer
heard the world famous string ensemble, The Academy of St.
Martin-in-the-Fields, under Iona Brown, perform this piece in Florida a
few years ago. The ACO performance here matched that."
-Face Magazine
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